One course covering multiple subjects

[CindyK]

I would like to see the ability to have one course cover multiple, specific subjects. I am using more Unit Study-style courses now and they cover several subjects - Language Arts, Literature, History, Geography, Science, and Art. I know that I can say "ANY" subject, which is what I do, but I am thinking about how that will work down the road as I start to want more documentation of courses - a la transcripts and portfolios. How to I make it clear that my one course covers specific subjects in the reports?

I had originally listed each subject separately and grouped them into a Course Group, but this caused 2 problems:
1. How do I split up the assignments everyday to apply to all of the specific subjects? This would be a time-consuming process to try to list all of the tasks in their separate course.
2. My sons found it overwhelming to see 5 courses listed on their daily schedule when they view it all as one course, regardless of what subjects it is covering.

Advice? Changes that could be made in the application to help?

[HSkedtrack]

Could you elaborate on what you want to be on the report? Do you have a sample report showing what you want?

For the Transcript of Records, it is based on a Subject with specific courses under it and not the other way around. For example the Subject Math will have courses Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry, Pre-Calculus; the Subject Social Studies will have courses US History, US Government, World History.

In your situation, there can be two options: Break down the Unit into specific courses (which you are already doing and said time consuming) or charge the whole Unit Study into the most significant or closest Subject. For example if it is both Art and History but really more of History then put it on History.

Homeschool Skedtrack Team

[CindyK]

I understand that the Transcript of Records is based on subject with specific courses under it. And I understand that normally that is the way courses are designed. However, integrated curricula is becoming more popular and cover multiple subjects. So I guess on the transcript, you would see something like:

Social Studies - Paths of Exploration (the actual course name)
Science - Paths of Exploration
Literature - Paths of Exploration
Language Arts - Paths of Exploration
Art - Paths of Exploration

But I suppose it would be smarter to name each component of the Unit Study with a more descriptive course name to more closely describe exactly what was done for that credit.

Would the Course Report would be able to list all resources, course description, and credits earned in each subject? To more clearly describe the course?

So basically, for transcript/record purposes, I would need to break it up into separate courses listed under a course group. But for assignment purposes for the boys, I would want a single line item for their checklist that is called "Paths of Exploration" with a lesson assignment of "Do Lesson 2, Part 3". I wonder what the best way to do this would be?

[HSkedtrack]

When you are saying: checklist that is called "Paths of Exploration" with a lesson assignment of "Do Lesson 2, Part 3" .. how long is this lesson? What subjects is this lesson covering? If this is an hour long, would you want to charge 1 hr for each subject covered? For example if it covers Art, History and Language Arts, would you credit 1 hr for each subject or just 20 min for each?

Homeschool Skedtrack Team

[CindyK]

OK, I see the problem now: How to allocate the time to each of the multiple subjects that are covered by the unit study. I have figured out how to break the unit study into separate parts for different "subjects" even though it is really all part of the same "course". And the boys are OK now with being able to understand what they need to do. I bought one package, and it covers multiple subjects, so I have to assign each task to it's corresponding subject, even though they are all related. So I guess now it would be nice to show that all of the different subject tasks - LA, Literature, History, Geography, Science, Writing, and Art - are all really part of one group because they are all part of the same "course". But I can't use Course Groups that way because I would have to assign only one SUBJECT to the entire group. So on the Today page, it might look like this:

Paths of Exploration:
History
Language Arts
Literature
Geography
Science
Writing
Art

But that is not a major issue at this point. Maybe I could just make sure the daily tasks show "PoE Lesson 2, Part 3" and then the task for the lesson. That way they will know where to go to find the lesson description/tasks.

Oh, and just so you know, the "Do Lesson 2, Part 3" is one day's work. In the guide book, they look up that part and it has all of the work required for that day to be done, covering all of the different subjects that are to be covered that day.

Thanks anyway,